Between Now and Forever brings the tears and grins, the swoons and the spice, and all the heart. I had such a lovely time reading this one!

Single mom Gabrielle moves back to her hometown to raise her boys and restart her life, what she doesn't count for is her very tantalizing albeit grumpy neighbor who comes crashing into her world. Well, actually, more like she crashes over her back porch railing and he runs over to rescue her. What follows is one heart looking for love, while the other tries to shut it out. There is much to face in this narrative, from grief to hope to courage; and two vulnerable, wonderful leads who will take the steps to do that. Even if at times some of those steps fall back. The journey to the end will be worth it.

I loved Gabrielle. She has so much on her plate but readily tries to juggle it all, with varying degrees of success. What cannot be denied is her love for her sons, and her motivation to find herself again and to keep moving forward. Enter Jay. Like Gabrielle nursing the grief of her ex-husband's death, Jay is facing his own sort of grief. Unlike Gabrielle, he stores the grief far away, hardening his heart and refusing to let his alluring neighbor in. The chemistry sizzling between these two is electric to watch, the push-and-pull that gives way to angst and cheers is my favorite as well! I rooted for them so readily and steadily throughout. I only wish Gabrielle and Jay's romance, once greenlit, had taken more breadth within the narrative before more hurdles were thrown their way. Nevertheless, I do think as a whole there's good pacing, with the final act truly shining above all.

Whenever I read single parent romances, I always enjoy when the incoming love interest bonds with the lead's child(ren). I'm quite used to that, which is why I appreciated what a different exploration is found in Between Now and Forever. While Gabriella's youngest instantly adores and accepts Jay, her oldest is resentful and angry. And while his behavior towards the adults is unwarranted, the emotions he is dealing with are absolutely understandable. He lost a father he loved and who loved him, and even if his parents were no longer together, they each fit into that their designated spot in his life. Seeing someone "threaten" (in his mind) that spot is a scary feeling. It becomes the catalyst for a decision Jay makes in the final act. What follows that decision strengthens that final act. I loved how this book ended, I loved how it wasn't all roses and rainbows, but rather getting to the nitty gritty of what is real. There is hurt that needs to be confronted-- from all sides. There is grief that needs to be reconciled. It is very moving how this narrative ended. I would say the second half of this one is the strongest half and my personal favorite. I adored the epilogue as well!

Between Now and Forever is an emotionally moving, heartfelt, and fabulously swoony read that is both about embracing love and reconciling grief. It's a book of comfort and a book of hope.

Oh! One more thing! I always get giddy when the title of book is mentioned within the narrative, and the way it folds into this one is just so perfect!

Thank you so kindly to Valentine PR and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.